In a vibrant display of cricketing camaraderie and fan culture, Indian men’s team all-rounder Krunal Pandya made headlines, as he turned up at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara to support Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Women during their Women’s Premier League (WPL) clash against Delhi Capitals (DC). The match was a fascinating encounter that saw RCB’s unbeaten streak come to an end, but the bigger story, at least off the field, was Pandya’s enthusiastic backing for the franchise’s women’s side.
Pandya, known for his dynamic presence in the IPL with RCB’s men’s team, was visibly delighted to soak in the electric atmosphere created by RCB supporters. “I am seeing a lot of red over here. People shouting RCB, which I can now say it’s quite familiar wherever we go. We get that same support in Baroda as well,” he said in a video shared by RCB, acknowledging the passionate and growing fanbase of the Bengaluru team across formats and cities.
His comments highlighted how the RCB culture traditionally attributable to the men’s side is now transcending into the women’s game, attracting crowds and camaraderie wherever the team plays.
Beyond celebrating the sea of red in the stands, Pandya shared his thoughts on RCB’s performance in the season so far. Prior to the match, RCB had been on a remarkable run, creating history with six consecutive wins in the 2025-26 season and aiming to continue that momentum.
“Yeah, I have been following. I know that we have one record which we have created, which is winning six in a row, and this is the seventh game — fingers crossed that we win this game as well,” he remarked optimistically. Pandya drew parallels between RCB’s ethos in the women’s league and the men’s game, noting that “in men’s cricket also, if you see last year, in every game there was a different individual standing up, and it’s similar in WPL also.”
Pandya’s presence underlined the increasing cross-support between India’s men’s and women’s cricket scenes, a trend cricket aficionado has long hoped to see flourish. His support wasn’t just symbolic but also reflective of a larger shift where top male cricketers are lending their voices and presence to bolster the women’s game in India, helping elevate visibility and fan engagement.
In what proved to be a roller-coaster of a game, Delhi Capitals Women made a strong statement by clinching a seven-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women. After being put in to bat, RCB could only muster 109 runs in their 20 overs, a total that proved challenging on surface offering assistance to bowlers. Delhi’s chase was clinical, with their batters cruising to 111/3 in just 15.4 overs, wrapping up the win with 26 balls to spare.
The defeat marked RCB’s first loss of the WPL 2026 season, ending their unbeaten streak and offering Delhi Capitals a morale-boosting triumph that significantly enhanced their playoff hopes. This result may prompt strategic reflection for RCB, but the team’s overall performance in the tournament still affirms their strength and consistency.
On the pitch, RCB’s journey remains compelling: despite today’s setback, their string of high-quality performances, including memorable victories earlier in the season has kept them firmly in the spotlight. Whether they can rebound and reclaim their winning rhythm will be one of the captivating storylines as the WPL moves towards the playoff stages.
As the cricketing world continues to watch the WPL with rising interest, moments like Pandya cheering from the stands remind fans and players alike that the spirit of the game thrives equally, whether it’s on the men’s field or the women’s.
Loves all things female cricket